Boeing OPT UI Refresh
(Versions 4.6 & 4.7)
Boeing’s Onboard Performance Tool (OPT) is a mission‑critical application used by pilots worldwide to calculate takeoff and landing performance. Despite its technical strength and broad platform support (Class 3 EFB, iPadOS, Windows 10/11), its UI had fallen out of alignment with Boeing’s other flagship EFB application, FlightDeck Pro (FD Pro). This inconsistency created friction for operators who relied on both tools during flight operations.
The OPT Product Manager engaged my team to modernize the UI, align it with FD Pro, and introduce contemporary platform capabilities—while preserving the established workflows essential for safety‑critical aviation environments.
*Note: Proprietary details have been removed or obfuscated. All content reflects my own experience and does not represent Boeing’s official views.*
My Role
I served as the UX Lead for the OPT UI refresh across iOS and Windows platforms. I partnered closely with:
- The OPT engineering team in Seattle
- The UI development team in Gdańsk, Poland
- A dedicated visual designer
- Airline partners across multiple regions
I collaborated with design direction, coordinated global usability testing, and acted as the primary liaison between design and engineering throughout the project.
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Challenge
OPT is an exceptionally complex, highly configurable system with deep ties to aircraft performance logic. Any UI change must:
- Preserve established pilot workflows
- Avoid introducing retraining burdens for airlines
- Maintain readability in diverse cockpit lighting conditions
- Support both iOS and Windows platforms
- Align visually with FD Pro’s modern design language
The goal was to modernize the interface without disrupting the operational reliability pilots depend on.
Approach
1. Establishing Cross‑Functional Alignment
I initiated weekly design and engineering reviews to ensure shared understanding of requirements, constraints, and platform differences. These sessions became a critical forum for surfacing edge cases and validating design decisions with subject‑matter experts.
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2. Incremental, Safety‑Focused UI Modernization (OPT 4.6)
The first phase introduced FD Pro–aligned visual styling while preserving OPT’s workflow patterns. Due to production constraints, we released dark theme first, prioritizing:
- Night‑operation safety
- Readability in indirect lighting
- Minimal disruption to pilot workflows
Despite the global COVID‑19 disruption, we conducted remote usability testing with two airline partners. Pilots described the updates as intuitive, familiar, and modern—exactly the balance required in aviation UX.
This phase also included the introduction of Compare Calculation, a safety feature enabling pilots to cross‑check performance results. The entire OPT team collaborated on requirements and design, and this feature later evolved into a patented enhancement.
Figure 1: OPT Windows 11 dark theme UI
3. Introducing Light Theme and Full Visual Parity (OPT 4.7)
With the foundation in place, we expanded the refresh to include a light theme, aligning OPT with modern OS capabilities and FD Pro’s dual‑theme support.
This required deep collaboration with:
- FD Pro’s design team
- Apple’s Human Interface Guidelines
- Microsoft’s Fluent Design System
- OPT engineering and UI teams
We conducted seven remote usability sessions with pilots, performance engineers, and training managers from seven global airlines. These sessions surfaced:
- Contrast issues in both themes
- Opportunities to refine the configuration workflow
- Real‑world lighting challenges (e.g., glare from overhead lights)
One participant initially disliked the light theme but grew to prefer it as they realized how much easier it was to read under bright lighting. After release, another participant reached out to share how well OPT’s light theme complemented FD Pro’s—affirming that we had achieved the intended ecosystem cohesion.
Figure 2: OPT iPadOS dark theme UI
Figure 3: OPT Windows 11 Light Theme UI
Figure 4: OPT iPadOS Light Theme UI
Impact
Operational Consistency
OPT and FD Pro now present a more closely related visual language, reinforcing Boeing’s EFB ecosystem identity.
Improved Readability & Usability
Both themes were refined to support cockpit lighting extremes, reducing visual strain and improving clarity.
Validated Through Global Testing
Remote research enabled rapid iteration and direct pilot feedback across multiple regions—accelerating insights during a period when in‑person testing was impossible.
Enhanced Safety
Compare Calculation strengthened cross‑checking workflows and contributed to a later design patent.
Stronger Cross‑Site Collaboration
The project established a durable design‑engineering partnership between the Denver, Seattle and Gdańsk teams.
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Reflection
This project reinforced the importance of incremental modernization in safety‑critical environments. Pilots value familiarity, reliability, and clarity above novelty. By grounding every decision in operational reality and pilot feedback, we delivered a modernized UI that respected the integrity of OPT’s workflows while elevating its usability and visual cohesion.
It also demonstrated the power of remote research, cross‑functional alignment, and thoughtful design leadership—especially when navigating complex legacy systems.